Bond strength and compressive stress-strain characteristics of brick masonry

Abstract

In this study, masonry and its material characteristics such as compressive strength of masonry prisms, bricks, mortars as well as bond strength (i.e., flexural and shear bond strengths) of brick and mortar joint are determined experimentally. The compressive stress-strain curves of brick, mortar, and masonry have been plotted and five control points have been identified on the stress-strain curve of masonry. The control points on the stress-strain curve would be useful for performance based design of masonry. Four types of bricks and three different types of mortars have been used in the experimental study. The compressive strength of masonry and flexural bond strength are determined with a test on five bricks stack bonded prisms. A bond wrench apparatus fabricated as per ASTM standards was used for flexural bond strength test. The shear bond strength of masonry is predicted using masonry triplet. It is observed that the concrete bricks have low flexural as well as shear bond strengths due to less contact area.